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In the far 20s, my grandparents Isidre Guilera and Maria Sardà were farmers in Can Batlle. My grandfather was in charge of making the wines that were to be used, afterwards, to make cava, at the cellar the owner had in Sant Sadurní. He did not know first-hand the process to make cava, but curiosity led him to look it up in a book from the owner's library: Vinos de Champaña y vinos espumosos, by P. Pacottet and L. Guittonneau, a book that is still today considered to be the bible of cava.
In 1927, and still as a farmer in Can Batlle, he decided to make his own cava; an adventure whose success and continuity were still unknown. However in 1933 a farm, la Masia de Ca l'Artigas, was put on sale and my grandparents decided to buy it, including the vineyards that the joint owners did not want. It was a wise decision but it was a risk, and it was not easy: a wasteland, a house in a bad condition, a cellar that needed rebuilding and, most of all, the context of shortage and suffering of a war. |
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My grandfather Isidre made little cava, but with much care and long ageing. I recall him saying: "...when you deal with wine, cleanliness, cleanliness, cleanliness"; a proof that he attached much importance to details. Meticulous, serious and rigorous, his philosophy was quality, as it is ours. And this is his heritage, the seed of a dream that has never lacked its followers: my parents, myself and nowadays also my daughter, we have all devoted —at different moments in our lifes, to this great project named Cava Guilera. An immense project in terms of joy, spirit of self-improvement and life intensity.
My parents Pere Guilera and Maria Massana decided not to devote only to cava: they redisigned the cellar, purchased machinery and started growing cereals; they made oil and had a farm. I arrived to the cellar when I was about 30, determined to fully devote myself to the making of cava, and now yes, in an exclusive way. And between all of us, we did it... today we can say that Cava Guilera is specialized and has grown stronger as a family business that makes ageing cavas. But the story does not end here... Also my daughter Marta has now decided to engage with the cause. She will be in charge of incorporating the new technologies in order to communicate more, and to communicate better; in charge of organizing Cava Guilera's enotourism project: cava, landscape, history, gastronomy and art. It is, without question, a moment of change and transformation, but our essence —the true driving force of this story, will keep being our inspiration source.
Pere Guilera
Grandson of the business founder; owner, oenologist and vine grower of Cava Guilera.
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